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Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre Inc.
Community Engagement Officer – Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network (AWAN)
35 hours per week, Fixed term: March 2025 – March 2026

Being an Aboriginal woman is a genuine occupational qualification under sections 14 & 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 NSW.
The Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network (AWAN), under the auspice of Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre (Wirringa Baiya) is looking for an experienced Data Officer on a part-time basis to join our team at 142 Addison Road, Marrickville, Sydney, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wirringa Baiya. The successful applicant will be able to work from home; however, they will be required to attend face-to-face meetings and consultations where necessary and when directed.

Service Description

Wirringa Baiya is a New South Wales state-wide community legal centre; this service is a not-for-profit managed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. The service focuses on the special needs of economically and socially disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and youth within New South Wales. Wirringa Baiya was established to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and youth with a genderspecific, trauma-informed service, which is sensitive to their culturally diverse needs. The focus of the Centre is to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are victim-survivors of violence, with access to appropriate legal and non-legal representation, advice, referral, and advocacy.

Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network

Wirringa Baiya currently auspices and manages the AWAN program. AWAN is a mechanism to drive Aboriginal-led policy solutions within NSW at a local, regional, and state level, particularly Closing the Gap Target 13. Target 13 aims to ensure the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children is reduced by at least 50%. AWAN consists of a collective of Aboriginal-lived experienced experts who have come together, under the banner of AWAN, to drive Aboriginal-led policy solutions at a local, regional, and state level.

The Role of AWAN

AWAN consists of members, most of whom sit outside of Wirringa Baiya; however, its secretariat support will be employed by Wirringa Baiya and sit within the organisation. The Data Officer will be an employee of Wirringa Baiya. However, the purpose of this role is to support AWAN and its members to achieve the objectives of the group, which are:

• Through our holistic knowledge and experience as Aboriginal women, AWAN will lead place-based solutions to address domestic, sexual, and family violence (DSFV).
• To provide Aboriginal women across NSW at a local, regional, and state level with opportunities and pathways to contribute their opinions, experiences, and perspectives.
• To inform and drive government decision-making on Target 13 and other issues impacting Aboriginal women, families, and communities.
• Develop a mechanism to ensure accountability and shared decision-making between AWAN and all stakeholders.
• Establish a social justice framework for government, NGOs, and the Aboriginal community to work and walk with us to maintain cultural integrity.
• Develop and design an Aboriginal framework of quality outcomes for women, families, and communities.
• Create and nurture a respectful, safe, and engaging network for the Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network.
• Using our ways to learn, educate, communicate, and create awareness of domestic, family, and sexual violence and the intersectionality with Closing the Gap priority reforms and targets.

AWAN has an Executive Council made up of community members and representatives of the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS), NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (NSW CAPO) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). The AWAN Executive Council is supported by the AWAN Secretariat/Project Team which is led by the Program Coordinator and is responsible for the delivery of the strategic direction set by the AWAN Executive Council. The Secretariat/Project Team are employees of Wirringa Baiya in accordance with the auspicing arrangement and are located within the offices of Wirringa Baiya.

Reporting and Decision Making

Duties are performed under the guidance and strategic direction of the AWAN Executive Council. Under the auspicing arrangement the role works within established structure and practices of Wirringa Baiya.

Community Engagement Officers: Roles and Responsibilities

The Community Engagement Officer is a key role responsible for engaging Aboriginal women and communities across NSW, along with the AWAN Secretariat/Project Team to deliver the strategic direction of the AWAN Executive Council and will: 

• Engage with Aboriginal women and communities across NSW in a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and appropriate manner.
• Engage and work collaboratively with communities across NSW to deliver localised community consultations.
• Identify and attend key meetings and interagencies to promote the work of AWAN.
• Grow and produce AWAN content on a variety of platforms including social media posts, newsletters, community media releases, website, workshop PowerPoint presentations, factsheets and video resources.
• To grow the brand awareness of AWAN.
• Assist with creating accessible resources that meet the needs of AWAN.
• Assist and support the Law Reform and Advocacy Officer in aspects of communications, marketing, public relations and branding.
• Have a demonstrated ability to produce and deliver campaigns and events.
• Assist with office administrative tasks and all operations of the program, as required.
• To organise, attend and assist in the delivery of community visits and consultations across NSW.

Essential Criteria

• The applicant must be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, identify and be accepted in community as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander woman.
• Work or have equivalent experience in a similar role.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, an attention to detail, as well as the ability to generate new ideas, solve problems and work autonomously on an agreed agenda within timeframes and budget.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and a proven ability to contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment.
• The ability to work independently and use initiative with some guidance and direction.
• Demonstrated skills in Microsoft Office – Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote.
• Ability to travel and stay overnight, where necessary.

Remuneration

The position will be full-time, 35 hours per week. The relevant award is the Social and Community Services Award (SCHADS). The rate of pay will be dependent on the experience and qualifications of the successful applicant. The annual rate will be $90,000 pro-rata + superannuation. Salary sacrificing is available. If you would like to discuss further, please advise.

THERE IS NO CLOSING DATE UNTIL A SUITABLE APPLICANT IS FOUND.

To submit an EOI:

• Please provide a cover letter of no more than two pages addressing the essential and desirable criteria along with a copy of your resume, relevant qualifications and/or relevant experience.
• Your resume or cover letter should also include the details of two contactable referees, one must be your current or most recent employer.
• Mark application “Confidential” and email above details to Christine Robinson at c.robinson@wirringabaiya.org.au

For any further information, please contact Christine Robinson (CEO) by phone: (02) 9569 3847 or by email –
c.robinson@wirringabaiya.org.au